The Adaptation Of The Leopard Gecko

Adaptive radiation of different organisms have occurred throughout geological time through the filling of ecological niches. Organisms different from one another are capable of radiating greatly, as they evolve traits that allow them to thrive better in their environment. The Anolis lizards of the Caribbean islands are a great example of a single genus to have radiated not once, but multiple times through very similar mechanisms. Different populations of the Anolis phenotypically vary in their morphological traits to facilitate adaptation to particular niches. These phenotypic variations have evolved in convergence in more than one occasion, as recently discovered fossil specimens show similar patterns in morphology to modern Anolis.

fish. The structure of each different type of tail is radically different. Some lizards have

The crested gecko lives in New Caledonia, which is northeastern to Australia. This part of the country is tropical and has very humid jungles which keep the gecko’s skin moist. The crested gecko’s body over time has adapted to this environment. In particular its tail,

Chapter 4, Teeth Everywhere, discusses teeth, obviously. By looking at an animal’s teeth you can learn much from it. They are a powerful window into an animal’s lifestyle. Teeth are a useful way to learn about our past.

Primates are some of the best-adapted animals in the planet. Throughout time their dentition has evolved into different patterns and forms, best fitted for their environment. From the early prosimians, to the modern men, the changes are a prime example of how diverse primates are. Throughout primate evolution, the changes in diet can be correlated with the changes in dentition patterns; however, dentition pattern can be different between male and female, and hold other purposes.

Introduction This first lecture is designed to introduce the primate order in terms of its classification and to familiarise you with the animals so that the rest of the course makes some sort of sense. I will cover a working definition of what makes a primate, give you a general classification scheme, describe the major features that identify the groups within the classification and discuss some of the controversial areas of the classification. I shall treat the taxonomy as a synonym for classification which seems to be its commonest current usage, although you should be aware that some people consider taxonomy to be more about the principles behind the classification than the classification itself.

There is a circumstance that has beset the understanding of evolution over time that there is no general theory involving primate evolution. Most of the theories are just mere speculation. Over the years, primates like gorillas, chimpanzees, and baboons all happened to have their turn in evolution. It was previously presumed that the taxon of interest happened to have the exact similar physiology and ecology as the analog taxon (Rafferty, 2010).The majority of the first primate species theories have been utilized because they solely share one fundamental characteristic with the hominines with the chimpanzees as the phylogenetic cousins. This paper addresses the different ecological conditions that handled the evolution of primates. It

The ecosystem consists of communities with different populations of species. Each diverse animal in the ecosystem has a unique way of surviving the abiotic and biotic factors in the environment through its traits; behavioral traits, morphological traits and physiological traits. Some of its traits prevent these organisms from predation, and others allows organism to survive when temperature are too high or too low. The strategy to survival depends on the animal. Let’s talk about the Procyon lotor also known by the name raccoon (Source 2).

New research conducted by Canadian experts at the University of Lethbridge suggests that new behavioral trends are manifesting among primates, which has interesting implications about how the behavior of all animals undergoes its own sort of evolution, including that of human beings. The study shows apparent sex acts on the parts of female, Japanese macaques on sika deer. These acts of interspecies relations were observed in Minoh, Osaka—a city in central Japan. As uncommony documented as interspecies relations can be, they are a known phenomenon, and it’s been observed as early as the Holocene epoch or even the Pliocene epoch by way of the extinct mammoth.

Analysis of teeth function in G. vogtlensis further supports the claim that large prey were

The New Caledonian Crested Gecko is one of the most sought out reptiles in the herptoculture hobby today. This medium-sized gecko has all the qualities of what to expect of a pet lizard. They combine their sheer beauty and low maintenance and docile tempers, making it an all around great pet to own (Rhacodactylus, p. 16). In the herpetological society, the crested gecko’s popularity has grown above hobbyist, into the hands of many first time pet owners, giving a first time experience made easy. According to Fester, (2007) “the rare Crested Gecko thought to be extinct but rediscovered in New Caledonia in 1994” (fester’ at Ireland

The olympic village effect is an example of evolution and a very fast one at that. The animal at fault is the Cane Toads originally introduced in Australia to get rid of pest. It quickly grew out of control. To the point where the now invasive species is the dominant species even among the indigenous. It is growing, getting stronger, and faster by the generation. Due to it not having any predators to keep the numbers at bay and the lush vegetation and amount of food it normally wouldn't have in its original environment. It has constantly been studied and it has been rapidly been evolving because the stronger and faster will have migrated further and faster, this leads to the elites breeding repeatedly and so on and so forth. This domino effect

The Rhinella marina or Cane Toad has a diet consisting primarily of insects, such as beetles, honey bees, ants, winged termites and crickets (Cameron, 2016). The Rattus norvegicus or Rat is a mammal which has an omnivorous diet, common foods within the rat’s diet are grains, fruits, vegetables, seeds, nuts, insects and other small animals (Dray, 2017). A strong connection between the diets and digestive systems within these animals is highly apparent. The exterior anatomy of the toad connecting to the digestive system is a wide jaw, a long tongue and no teeth. The extendable and lengthy tongue of the toad is used to catch living prey, which is then swallowed whole. Contrastingly, the rat has four long and sharp front teeth, these are the incisors

Physical Description: P. catenifer can range from 180-275 cm. They usually have larger heads and narrow necks. P. catenifer, generally marked with brown or black spots on a lighter straw to grey colored background, depending on their environment, can commonly be misidentified as a rattle snake. This species has a lifespan of 33 years in captivity and 12-15 years in the wild. Reproduction maturity takes 3-5 years for females, and 1-2 years for a male. P. catenifer is oviparous.

An adaptation is a result of evolution. They can be structural (physical features), behavioural and physiological (special response e.g. snake producing venom). These adapted characteristics (or mutations) develop for a creature to survive in it’s environment better, which are then passed on to its offspring. For example, the Wolly Mammoth possessed a number of physical adaptations to survive the cold